By Emmanuel Nduka
The Nigerian Government has launched 20 high-tech buses powered by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to ease the transportation burden of civil servants in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
Speaking during the launch of the of the buses in Abuja on Tuesday, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan noted that the project was facilitated in collaboration with FEMADEC Group, a private engineering and construction company.
She stressed that the project will help reduce the cost of transportation of civil servants and further decongest the bus stops of civil servants around the Federal Secretariat, which is usually overcrowded during close of work.
Dr. Yemi-Esan added that easing transportation of civil servants has been one of the target of her administration, adding that the government has always sought ways to achieve a healthier and safer environment for civil servants.
“This pillar is targeted at addressing issues of the socio-economic wellbeing of civil servants, whichisf not tackled holistically, is capable of impeding the efficiency of workers,” she added.
The number of buses, the HoS added, will be scaled up to 40 in the second phase of the project.
Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office, Ngozi Onwudiwe, noted that the pilot phase of the scheme will commence across six routes in the FCT.
The perm sec who was represented by Uchenna Obi, Director Federal Integrated Housing Scheme, listed the routes as: “Karu-Jikwoyi/Orozo/Karshi; AYA/Nyanya/Mararaba/Ado/Masaka; Berger/Kado/Gwagwa/Karmo; Kado Estate/Gwarimpa; Airport Road; and Kubwa/Dutse Alhaji”.
Chief Executive Officer of FEMADEC Group, Fola Akinnola, highlighted that the initiative to provide the buses started in 2019, when the Federal Government moved to switch from petrol-powered cars to gas-powered cars.
He added that the buses which will run on CNG, comes at a critical time when Nigeria is battling with rising cost of diesel.
